When fashion models come to mind, sometimes our initial idea of them are those snooty, stick-thin, big-headed bitches. I understand where that’s coming from. After all, when you’re in the fashion industry, you have to do whatever it takes to stay relevant and on top; even if that means you have to let others tell you what to do, right? Wrong. So wrong. The fashion world has led us to believe for too long that “thin is in”, that the only way to be pretty enough is to constantly starve ourselves and purge whenever we get the chance. What they probably don’t realize is that even models can be greatly affected by their definition of “beauty”, and this can bring forth some serious issues.

Alexandra Nicole Michael or better yet known as Ali Michael, is a 23-year-old fashion model from Colleyville, Texas. She’s 5 foot 9, has pretty blue eyes, and has amazingly bold eyebrows. In her earlier modeling years, she walked shows for Marc Jacobs, Lanvin, and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Based on all the things I’ve mentioned, what could possibly go wrong? Well, there can be a lot. Truth is: Ali has been a victim of the fashion stigma herself.

On February of 2008 when Paris Fashion Week was just about to begin and just when Ali hoped to kill that season, she was sent home. And yeah you guessed it, because she was considered “too fat”. Casting directors took note that her legs were too big and that she gained a few pounds, but what they did not know was that she had already been suffering from anorexia and bulimia. So she was sent on a plane back to Texas with being called fat still lingering on the back of her mind. For someone to call a person suffering from an eating disorder or even any person for that matter fat, is not okay; and it should never be okay. “From my personal experience, it has to change. We’re sending a message, and the fashion industry affects everybody — anybody who opens a magazine, anybody who watches TV,” Michael said during her interview with the Today Show(x). “I don’t think that people realize that there are lifelong consequences. Anorexia and bulimia can cause heart failure and osteoporosis and infertility. It’s a serious problem, and I think that it really needs to change”. I couldn’t agree more.

Photo by Marcel Castenmiller

At this point you’re probably wondering why we decided to feature her as this December’s Girl of The Month, and to sum it up for you, here are a few reasons why:

1. She’s a survivor and she’s staying strong.

Despite what happened with her, she didn’t let that get in the way of pursuing her career. “I used to think of being skinny as a job requirement. I felt a pressure to be emaciated,” she told modelsblog.com, “I want to keep modeling, as long as I can maintain a healthy lifestyle”. From what I could see, she is doing better than she did before, and she seems to be happier as well. Currently, she is signed with six different agencies all in different countries and has worked with so many designers and brands for the past few years. It’s pretty obvious that she has made a huge name for herself and now directors may have to think twice before turning her down. 2. She cares. “My ultimate goal would be to work for the United Nations or the World Health Organization one day and make a difference,” she said. I think that is one of the most admirable things about her because not only is she thinking about her own health, but also about the other girls who are suffering from various eating disorders and/or are struggling to recover. It is nice to know that a fashion model who is told to become a size zero, refuses to succumb to that standard and instead, help those who conform to the pressure realize that you don’t have to let anyone tell you what or what not to do to become beautiful in their eyes. 3. She doesn’t care--about what people think of her.

Ali Michael possesses one of the most eccentric personalities I have ever seen in the fashion industry. Most of the other models might be overly prim and proper, but not this girl. In fact, she has been seen lying on the streets of New York City and I mean literally, lying on the concrete floor. She has also posted a video of herself with her current boyfriend, Marcel Castenmiller putting whipped cream on each other while strips of ham were on their faces. Ali Michael doesn’t give a fuck--and I love it.

photos from @ali_michael on Instagram

Despite "Stereotypes" being our theme of the month, we wanted to feature someone who was once part of a stereotype but realized that it's better to do your own thing; and Ali Michael is exactly that kind of person. And to our readers who are being affected by eating disorders or by bullies, I hope you find inspiration in Ali and we also hope that you get through your tough times. We love you guys!

High school is a deranged place. I don’t know who came up with the thought that people being separated into different groups is a good thing, but I’m sure as hell that he/she wasn’t thinking straight. We see it everywhere especially in media; the jocks and cheerleaders rule the school while the geeky and dorky kids stay on the sidelines. Isn’t it pretty ridiculous that we are being set to conform with these notions just because it is how it has always been? When has it ever become a rule that if you’re pretty and rich, you have to sit with the “cool kids” and if you have an IQ way above average, you have to hang out with the “nerds”; and you can’t hang out with anybody else. It’s absurd that people choose not to talk to or befriend other people outside their clique just because of the so-called “status quo”. Actually it’s not just absurd, it’s stupid. You may be thinking, “does this actually happen in real life?” and the answer to that is: YES THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN REAL LIFE AND I HAVE SEEN IT RIGHT BEFORE MY VERY EYES. I know, it’s hard to believe that these kinds of people exist, but that’s reality. Some people are just too afraid to defy the laws of high school cliques. So why am I ranting about this? Because it’s high time to throw this bullshit status quo out the window and let yourself be with the people you want to be with. Make new friends. Take the time to get to know some of the people you haven’t really talked to in school and maybe you’ll end up being really good friends with them. It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone and not letting others tell you what to do or who you should hang out with.

Fuck labels. Just because you're seen as one thing doesn't mean can't be another. In the end, all these bullshit names and cliques won't matter after you graduate high school. It won't matter how popular or unpopular you were. So make the most out of your four years and be nice to people!